This model kit is a
improved Curtiss P-1B "Hawk" fitted with skis and an inline radiator
cooled engine as well as improved flight controls. This bi-plane dates
from the 1926 time period. Sadly the 'improvements' cost the plane in
performance.
You also get the
option to fit this plane with wheels.
I've always been
attracted to planes with skis,
so the release of this kit caught my eye. This new resin
kit from Olimp
Models is part of their
new Pro
Resin line of
resin kits. This little 1/72 kit comes packed in a VERY sturdy little
box. Upon opening the box, I was treated to a beautiful sight of a
delicate little multi-media kit which includes mostly resin parts, photo etch
and clear parts, a clear acetate instrument panel and a decal
sheet. This is "the full meal deal".....no need to add anything
to this kit except for some rigging lines.
Now....this is a resin kit, so it
will require the use of CA glue (Crazy Glue) to assemble it and the parts are
going to need a tiny bit of cleaning up, but this is very minimal and will not
in any way detract from the joy of building this kit. If you've ever done
any work with resin parts before you will have no problem tackling this
kit......go slow....be patient and enjoy the build. I did a dry fit of the
fuselage halves and they lined up perfectly.....this kit should go together well
if the rest of the kit has the same excellent level of fit.
Click on
images below to see larger images
|
|
|
|
|
Skis |
wheels |
The attachment points for the
resin parts is wonderfully thin making the removal of the parts from the resin
casting blocks a quick and easy job. Most parts are already removed from
their resin casting blocks. Detail is very crisp on most parts
and the finished products will be a treat to behold.
The inclusion of
Photo Etched parts and an Acetate instrument panel tells me that Pro Resin
is going to be a product line well worth watching for new releases.
The PE parts are tiny and very well formed. They include items that
will be well visible to the viewer of the finished model and these PE
parts will enhance the delicate look of the finished model.
The kit parts are pretty
straight forward and the 4 pages of instructions cover the assembly
process in a clear and easy to follow way. The instructions include
paint codes in Humbrol, Model Master and Revell colours.
The one decal option is for
a Curtiss P-1B Hawk with the 27th Pursuit Squadron in the Winter of
1927. This aircraft is overall Olive Drab with the nose and bright
Insignia Red with the tail and wings in bright Insignia yellow. The U.S.
national markings are bright Red/White/Blue. The skis and strut supports for the wings were Olive Drab
in colour.
The decals are very clearly
printed....not too thick...not too thin and of good colour coverage.
|
|
As you can see from the sample of
photos of the resin parts below, the panel line detail is recessed and well
done. The wings have realistic wing ribbing detail and will
look quite convincing of the finished kit. The seat is well done in resin and once you add the seatbelts and paint it up it
will look very good.
Click on
images below to see larger images |
|
|
|
|
This is a sweet looking little
kit and if you want to try a multi-media WW1 kit then you will do well to check
out these new multi-media kits from Pro Resin at Olimp
Models.
I would like to thanks Oleg at Olimp
Models for sending me
this review sample.
Steve Bamford
|